ACE to Acquire Brazil’s Commercial P&C Insurer Itaú Seguros

ACE Limited announced that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire the large corporate property and casualty (P&C) business of Itaú Seguros, S.A. from Itaú Unibanco S.A. for approximately $685 million.

ACE noted that upon completion of the transaction it would increase its share of the Brazilian market to become the “largest commercial P&C insurer in the largest market in Latin America.”

The bulletin explained that “Itaú Seguros large corporate P&C insurance business was established in 2006 and has been 100 percent owned by Itaú Unibanco, Brazil’s largest non-government bank, since 2009.

“In 2013, the business had approximately $950 million in gross premiums written and an 18 percent market share, making it Brazil’s leading commercial P&C carrier for the large corporate market. The business, which focuses on a broad array of property and marine coverages for large corporate accounts, has approximately 320 employees, a national distribution footprint and relationships with more than 600 brokers.”

ACE Chairman and CEO Evan G. Greenberg commented: “Brazil is a large and important market to ACE’s strategy in Latin America. The addition of Itaú Seguros’s large corporate P&C insurance business will complement and deepen our longstanding presence in Brazil in a significant way.

“This is a great opportunity to acquire from one of the region’s largest and most highly regarded banks an insurance market leader that has complementary business lines, national reach, extensive distribution, a diversified portfolio and, importantly, an experienced, professional and talented management team with an underwriting culture similar to ours. We are delighted that they will be joining ACE.”

ACE’s operations in Brazil currently include an established commercial and personal P&C business, a significant accident and health insurance business, as well as life insurance and reinsurance. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2015 and be accretive to earnings immediately.